Can dogs eat pop tarts? It’s a question that has been on many dog owners’ minds. And if you have wondered about it yourself, you’re not alone. Conflicting information abounds, with some sources insisting that it is okay to give your dog a Pop tart now and then while other sources claim that the high sugar content will cause your dog undue harm.
This article will clear up all of these conflicting reports and answer this question once for all!
So, Can Dogs Eat Pop Tarts?
The answer is “maybe.” Pop-tarts are safe to feed your dog, but they don’t provide any significant nutritional value. Also, some of the ingredients such as sugar and sugar frosting can be extremely dangerous to your dog’s health.
It would be difficult to answer this question in detail without knowing about the components of these delicious pastries first… so let’s focus on that!
What Are Pop Tarts?
Pop tarts are a snack food that is made of a short crust pastry, sealed along the edges, and then filled with a choice of fruit jam or frosting. It has become very popular in the US. as they can be found in most major grocery stores.
The earliest record we have so far for what would come to be known as Pop Tarts was a 1934 patent for “biscuits of doughnut shape” that included not only the filling but also chocolate icing.
In 1939, the Anderson Bakery in Indiana created the first product under the Pop Tart brand and has been one of the chief producers of this product. The filling of these first products was fruit jam. Pop tarts have been around for many years now and they are getting more popular every day. They have been sold at many different stores including: Walmart, Food Lion, Kroger, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.
There is no information about the amount of calories or fat grams in Pop Tarts, but the ingredients list is fairly clear. While it says that the product contains less than 1% of saturated fat and less than 1% of trans fat, it also has a lot more sugar. Some very small and even some medium Pop Tarts have more sugar than that evil little box of cookies you get at the grocery store.
Things To Consider Before You Give Pop Tarts to Your Dog
Who doesn’t love this sweet and flaky breakfast pastry? Unfortunately, most dogs can’t partake in the deliciousness because the pop tart contains ingredients that are toxic to pets in the long run. Your dog mightn’t seem affected after eating one, but there can be lasting health effects from this processed pastry filled with sugar and additives.
The first thing to consider is the sugar in the pop tart. A medium Pop Tart has about 300 calories. This is a fairly high amount of calories for a dog to have in such a small amount of food. You also might want to look at the nutritional content within the Pop Tart, when you can find it. Most labels will tell you how many servings are in it and how many calories and fat grams are in each serving, so you’ll know exactly what your dog is having for breakfast.
Dogs can become diabetic just as humans can. This means that too much sugar in their diet will eventually lead to some major health problems, so even though giving your dog a Pop Tart once in a while will not hurt him, it’s better to limit their intake of sugary foods just to be on the safe side.
The next thing you need to consider is the size of the Pop Tart. Because many dogs eat more than one Pop Tart at once and there are smaller sizes available as well, you might want to try giving your pooch only one piece at a time.
What About Flavored Pop Tarts?
A pop tart can be bought in a variety of flavors and colors, from green to pastel blue. It can also be made with many different fillings, such as strawberry or chocolate.
Can Dogs Eat Strawberry Pop Tarts?
Dogs can eat strawberry pop tarts with no adverse effects provided they are fed in moderation.
Strawberry Pop Tart is a small rectangular pastry with a layer of strawberry jam in the middle. The two outer layers are light brown (tasting more like graham crackers) and the inner layer is lighter and tastes sweeter.
Strawberry pop tarts are a food with a good amount of energy, but their high sugar content makes them unhealthier than some other foods. This is why it is important that you limit the amount of strawberry pop tarts you feed to your dog every day.
Explore more on “Can Dogs Eat Strawberry Pop Tarts?”
Can Dogs Eat Chocolate Pop Tarts?
No. Dogs can’t eat chocolate pop tarts.
Chocolate is toxic for dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and methemoglobinemia (a low oxygen state). The good news is that the amount of chocolate in a pop tart (about 1/10th of a teaspoon) is really not enough for your dog to actually be affected by it. Even then, why risk your pup’s life? It’s always better to be safe than sorry about your dog’s health.
Also, check out our full article on “Can Dogs Eat Chocolate Pop Tarts?”
What Can Dogs Eat Instead Of Pop Tarts?
There are sweet treats that canines can enjoy and they have a much better name: Pupcakes. Now if you ask us, these pupcakes are much more tempting than any pop tarts!
Here’s what pupcakes are all about:
The pupcakes are made of 100% all-natural ingredients. They come in a variety of flavors (chocolate and vanilla) and a wide variety of sizes (mini, medium, and large). You can find pupcake mix on amazon and bake your own sweet sugary delight for your pup.
Conclusion
It’s okay to give your dog pop tarts occasionally, but don’t do it too much. Limit the amount of pop tarts that you give your dog each week, and only feed him a few each time. And be sure to check the labels for nutritional information.
Now that you know what things are to be considered before giving pop tarts to your dog, find out more about other pop tarts-related dog articles here.
How often do you give pop tarts to your dog? Do they love pop tarts? What flavor do you usually give them? We would love to hear from you. Please share with us by leaving a comment below!